Grinding machine



March 10,' 771959 lA. L. PAssAFARo ErAL 2,876,598

l GRINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1957 6 Sheets-'Sheet 1 $5583 am" mlm v 2 mnhmml nnnlrlll v" -l w) s, Ng "-7/ l g il n l 3 8 2 D Q E s? l IIIA MAM. o N v .1 ci@ #gli E III Il IIIII .Il Il lll l Iv @5g Ey March 10, 1959 I A. PAssAFAO ETAL 2,876,598

GRINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10,- 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

March l0, 1959 A. L. AssAFARoA ETAL 112,876,598*

l GRINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1957 f 6 SheetS-Sheet 3 March 10, 1959 y A. L. PAssAFARo ETAL 2,876,593

GRINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o, 1957 e sheetssheet 4 March 1o, 1959 Filed Jan. 10, 1957 A. L. PASSAFARO ETAL GRINDING MACHINE 6 sheets-sneu 5A .JIP

March 10, 1959 A. l.. PAssAFARo ErAL 2,876,598

GRINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 nited States atjnt GRINDING MACHINE Anthony L. Passafaro, Fredonia, Clarence I. Braun, Dunkirk, and William K. Powers, Fredonia, N. Y., assignors to Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, Brackenridge, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 10, 1957, Serial No. 633,492

8 Claims. (Cl. 51-39) I This invention relatesto billet grinders and in lparticular to apparatus for effecting an automatic and progres sively continuous grinding of billets of steel. I

In industry and in particular the steel mill industry, billets of steel must be conditioned to remove surface and edge defects therefrom so that the billets may be further processed into sheet and strip products. Here tofore such surface and edge defects have been removed by surface grinding as by means of a manually operated swing grinder, such operation requiring a considerable number of swing grinders in constant operation in order to maintain production rates. Even with the swing grinders, it has been quite diliicult to remove edge defects from the billets, such operation being time consuming. Thus a considerable capital investment in equipment must be maintained while considerable manpower must be allocated to operate the swing grinders in order to maintain an adequate rate of conditioned billets with the result that the conditioning of billets is an expensive production item.

Many attempts have been made heretofore to alleviate the expensive operation of conditioning billets by finding v -grinding of a billet to produce. a billet having ground corners or edges and flat surfaces. 4 Another object of this Ainvention is to provide, in a billet grinding apparatus, means for supporting and rotatably advancing a billet while engaged by a grinding wheel for etlectinga progressive grinding of.. all of the surfaces of a billet.

A further object of this invention is the provision, in al;

vbillet grinding apparatus, of rotatable drive supporting and grinds an edge of the billet for a period of time substantially equal to the period of time of grinding a :dat surface thereof.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in a billet grinding machine for progressively grinding a billet, of means for rotatably advancing the billet as the lbillet is ground, means for electing movement ofthe grinder relative to the billet, and means for controlling 'l the pressure of the grinder on the billet whereby a sub stantially uniform grinding pressure is applied to the corners or edges and dat surfaces of the billet as the billet is rotatably advanced.

Otherobjects of this invention -will becomeapparent 2,876,598 Patented Mar 10,..- .1,959

from the following description when taken in conjunta tion with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a billet grinding apparatus embodying features of this invention;` l

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and of the drive for such apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation and greatly enlarged of the billet grinding apparatus taken along the line III-III ,of Fig. 2; f y f Fig. 4 is a view-in section and greatly enlarged of one of the rotatable supports of the' apparatus of Fig. 1 as taken. along the line IV-IV of Fig. 5; A Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section, of one of the supports taken along the line V-V-of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the support g mechanism for'. a grinding wheelutilized in conjunction with the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and of the schematic diagram of the control circuits for controlling the movement and grinding pressure of the grinding wheel; and

Fig. 7 is a view in top elevation of a portion of the supporting mechanism of the grinding wheel. l

Referring to the drawing, the billet grinding apparatus of this invention comprises the billet supporting .apparatus shown generally at 10 in Fig. l, the drive ap paratus shown generally at 12 in Fig. 2 and the grinding wheel support and controls shown generally at 14 in Fig. 6. As illustrated in Fig. l, the billet supporting apparatus 10 in general comprises two fixed housings 16 and 18 disposed in spaced relation on a suitable foundation or floor 20. In this instance the housings 16 and 18 are identical and in general comprise vertically disposed frame plate members 22, 24 and 26, the upper ends of which are held in spaced relation by suitable tie rods 28, pipe spacer members 30, illustrated in Fig. 4, being disposed about the tie rods 28 to abut against the spaced frame plate members and maintain such plate members in spaced position relative to one another. The spaced frame plate members 22, 24 and 26 are suitably mounted on and with their lower ends secured to a base member 32 supported on spaced legs 34 and 36 which are seated on and secured in any suitable manner to the foundation 20. The lixed housings 16 and 18 are mounted as illustrated in Fig. l in spaced relation to provide a space there Vbetween for receiving la grinding wheel 38 for engaginga billet 40 as will be referred to hereinafter. Each of the fixed housings 16 and 18 is provided with a pair of rotatable housings 42 and 44 disposed between the rotatable 50 iframe plate members 22-24 and 24-26, respectively.

The assembly and mounting for the rotatable housing 42 is better illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, to which reference may be made.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the rotatable housing 42, the details of which will be referred to hereinafter, is carried for rotatable movement by rotatable members supported in suitable openings in frames 22 and 24. Thus a main gear member 46 is provided with the web of the gear adjacent the frame 22 and having a hub 48 disposed to extend into an opening in the frame plate 22. A suitable roller bearing structure 50 is disposed about the hub 48 and is held in operative position in the opening in the frame plate l22 as by means of the bearing plate 52 which is secured to the frame plate 22 as by means ofthe stud screws 54 and a ring plate 53 secured to the bearing plate 52 as by means of stud screws 55. Any suitable roller bearing structure may be utilized in this construction for providing suicient bearing support for the drive gear 46.

' In practice the opening in the hub 4S of the drive gear-'46 is provided with a protective sleeve 56 held in position as by means of a ange ring 58 which is secured to the hub by spaced screws 59.

The support for the rotatable housing 42 as well as the rotatable housing 44 in the center frame plate 24 is formed of a spacer pipe member 60 disposed for rotation relative to a bushing 62 carried in the opening of the frame plate 24, the opposite ends of the spacer pipe 60 being threaded on the outer surface thereof for receiving 'a threaded flange member 64, the purpose of which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

In order to provide for retention of the bushing 62 as well as to provide a positive drive for certain of the components ofthe rotatable housings 42 and 44 as will he explained more full;I hereinafter, a gear member 66 is positioned on each side of the flange plate 24 being spaced therefrom as by spacer rings 68 with the webs of the gear members 66 overlapping the; bushing 62 to hold the same -in position, the gears 6 6 on opposite sides of the ange plate 2 4 being secured in position as by means of spaced tie. bolts 70 extending through the gears 66', spacer rings 6 3 and the'ange plate 24. The gears 66 are thus maintained in fixed position on the frame plate 2 4, the reason for which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

As stated hereinbefore, each of the rotatable housings 42v and 44 of each of the fixed housings 16 and 18 k'is identical, although disposed in reverse relation with respect to one another. rihus, as illustrated in Figs.Y 4 and 5, the rotatable housing 42 is formed of a rugged rectangular box frame member 72, the sides of which have s ubstantial cross bar or plate members 74-76, 78--80 at the upper and lower ends thereof being spaced as by means of the upper end plate 82 and the lower end plate 8 4 and being disposed to be secured to the web ofthe drive gear 46 and the flange plate 64 as by means of suitably spaced stud screws 86' and S7, respectively, as shown more fully in Fig. 4. The housings 42 and 44- being identically mounted are thus disposed to be simultaneously driven as the drive gear 46 associated with each housing is operated as will be described hereinafter.

yln order to support a billet 40 along its longitudinal axis in the aligned openings in the assembled rotatable housings 42 and 44 of each of the xed housings 16 and 1 8, each of the rotatable housings is provided with a pair of grooved feed rollers or wheel members 88 and 90 mounted in the housings in aligned relation with the y grooves of each pair of wheel members 8S and 90 facing one another in aligned relation, it being noted, that the grooves of each pair of wheel members 88 and 90 are also aligned with the openings formed by the sleeves andi Spacer pipemember 60 of each of the fixed housings 16' and 1S;

The grooved wheel 90 is lixedly mounted inthe. housing 42 as better illustrated in Fig.v 5. 'I hus the grooved IWheel member 90 is fixed to a Shaft 92 in any suitable mannen the ends o f" the shaft 92 being disposed t o extend through suitable cartridge bearing assemblies 94 disposed in openings therefor in the opposite sides of the 'frame of tlie housing 42. The details of the cartridge bearings need not be described, as they are well known in the art and can be purchased as a commercial commodity ready for mounting for supporting a given shaft. As illustrated in Fig. v one end ofthe shaft 92 extends beyond the frame of the housing 42 at one side thereof and carries a sprocket gear 96 thereon, and the other end of the shaft 92 extends beyond the frame of the housingy 42 at the, other side thereof andv carries a worm gear 98thereon.

'i Grooved wheel member 8S is similar to the grooved wheel member 90, being mounted on a shaft 100 which extends through suitable cartridge bearing assemblies 102 at; the opposite ends thereof, such cartridge bearing asv semblies being carried in movable hearing block support members 104 and 106 on the.. opposite sides of the frame :of the housing 42 for slidablemovement between side "cross-bar or plate members 74 and, 78: thereof. bearing support members,104 and 106y are thus movable The vertically within the housing 42 for adjusting or positioning the grooved wheel member 88 relative to the grooved wheel member for accommodating dilferent sized billets 40 therebetween as the billets are longitudinally moved through the aligned openings in the rotatable housings 42 and 44 of the fixed housings 16 and 1S. In order to support the grooved wheel member 38 in its operative position, a pair of spaced spring members 108 and 110 as illustrated in Fig. 4 is carried in each side of the frame of the housing 42 disposed between the end plate 82 and the upper end of the respective bearing block support members 104 and 106. Thus one pair of the spring members 108 and 110 have one end of the springs disposed to seat against the upper end of the associated bearing support member 104 or 106, the other end of the springs of each pair being disposed about studs 112 and 113, respectively, to seat against washers 114 and 115, respectively. As illustrated, the studs 112 and 113 extend downwardly from and are carried by the end plate 82, each of the studs being provided'with a pair of adjustable nuts 116' and 118 for controlling the positioning of the. washers 114 and 11S, respectively. By adjusting the nuts 116 and 118 on each of the studs 112 and 113, the force of the springs 108 and 110, respectively, can be adjusted to permit a predetermined displacement of the grooved wheelI 88 relative to the ifixed grooved wheel 90 to accommodate irregularities in a billet and for maintaining a driving force on a predetermined sized billet 40 disposedtherebetweeu. The movable grooved wheel 83 has one end of its shaft 160 disposed to extend through the bearing support member-104, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to carry a sprocket 120 for cooperating with the sprocket 96 as will be described hereinafter.

Again referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the drive for the grooved wheel members 8S and 90 is better illustrated. As stated hereinbefore, the rotatable housings 42 and 44 are identical, but are utilized in reverse position. Thus the drive which will now be described with respect to the housing 44 and is shown on the front of the housing 44 as illustrated in Fig. l will have a counterpart on; the rear of' the housing 42, the parts being in reversed order. Thus a pair of brackets 122 and 124 are disposedl in spaced relation on the frame of the housing 44 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner. The brackets 122 and 124 are provided with suitable bearings (not shown) for supporting the shaft 126 of a Worm 128, the one end of the shaft 1,26 having a pinion geary 1 30 secured thereto with the teeth of the pinion gear 130 in engagement with the teeth of the gear 66 which is carried on and lixed to the center frame plate 24 as described hereinbefore. rl`he worm 128 is disposed in engagement with the teeth of the pinion gear 9 8 carried by the end of the shaft 92 of the xed grooved wheel member 9G.

Again referring to Fig. l', a portion of the drive for simultaneously operating the cooperating grooved wheels 88l and 90 of each of the rotatable housings is better illustratedl by referring to the showing of the housing 42, it being understood that a similar drive, except for reverse positioning, is provided on the reverse side of the housing 44 shown in Fig. l. Thus an idler sprocket 132 is mounted on abracket 134 which is carried on the web of the gear 46, and a take-.up sprocket 136 is carried on a bracket 138, pivotally mounted as at 139 to the, frame of the housing' 42, the sprockets 96, i222, 1361 and 132 being disposed to be connected and driven as by a sprocket chain 1401 shown in dot-dash outline. As illustrated inl ldigs.v 1 and 5, the bracket 133 is provided with an opening therein for receiving the upper end of a stud 142 forI movement therein, the lower end of the stud 1 42I being carried by a suitable bracket 144. mounted on the frame of the. housing 42 and being provided with adjustable nuts 146 and 148 so as to vary the bias of a coil spring, 15.0 `disposed between. the. nut 146 andv the pivotal bracket 138 whereby the positioning of the takeup sprocket 136 can be adiusted for maintaining the chain asm-59e 140 in operative position relative to the drive sprockets- 96 and 120 of the grooved wheel members 90 and 88, respectively, to eect a simultaneous drive thereof. The bias of the spring 150 eifectively causes the bracket 138 to pivot and move the sprocket 136 to maintain the chain 140 in driving relation with the drive sprockets 96 and 120 as the grooved wheel member 88 is moved as by reason of irregularities on the billet passing between the cooperating drive rolls or grooved wheel members 88 and 90.

In order to effect a simultaneous rotation of the movable housings 42 and 44, the large drive gears 46 rotatably carried adjacent each of the outer frame members 22 and 26 are disposed to engage pinion gears 152 and 154 carried on a shaft 156 which extends through suitable cartridge bearings 158, 160 and 162 in the lower end of the frame plates 22, 24 and 26, respectively, the adjacent ends of the shafts 156-of the xed housings 16 and' 18 being connected through a self-aligning coupling 164 with the end of the shaft 156 extending beyond the xed housing 18 being disposed to be operated by the drive shown generally at 12 in Fig. 2. Thus the end of the shaft 156 which extends beyond the iixed housing 16 terminates in a pinion gear 166 disposed to be driven by a large drive gear 168 carried on the end of a shaft 170 mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) on the upper end of a bearing frame member 172. The other end of the shaft 170 is provided with a Geneva gear 174 which is suitably keyed to the shaft 170 and is disposed to be engaged by a driver disk 176 carried on the end of a shaft 178 connected through a gear reducer 180 to be driven by any suitable means such as a motor (not shown), or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the

driver disk 176 comprises two spaced wheel members 182 and 184 having a pair of spaced pins 186 and 188 disposed diagonally opposite one another and extending between the spaced wheel members 182 and 184. The spaced pins 186 and 188 are provided with sleeves 190 and 192, respectively, on the outer surfaces thereof, the sleeves being capable of being rotated relative to their supporting pins. The pins 186 and 188 are so disposed that upon rotation of the disk 176 one of the pins will engage a slot of the Geneva gear 174 for effecting a quarter turn of the Geneva gear 174 as the disk 176 is rotated to a point where the pin is released from the slot of the Geneva gear 174. A spacing member 194 is mounted'between the spaced wheel members 182 and 184 and is so shaped that it will not interfere with movement of the'Geneva gear 174 when one of the pins 186 or 188 engages a slot of the Geneva gear, nor will it effect any movement of the Geneva gear when the pins are out of engagement with the slots of the Geneva gear.

Thus, as the disk member 176 is driven, the rotatable sleeve of one of the pins 186 or 188 engages one of the slots of the Geneva gear 174 and as the disk 176 is rotated, slides inwardly and then outwardly in rotating l engagement with a forward edge of the slot to effectively drive the Geneva gear in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 downwardly to a point where the sleeve carried by the pin disengages the slot of the Geneva gear. No further movement of the Geneva gear will be effected until the following pin engages the following slot of the Geneva gear 174. As the Geneva gear 174 is driven in the manner just described, the large drive gear 168 carried on the other end of shaft 178 is rotated to drive the pinion gear 166 of the coupled shafts 156.

As the shafts 156 are rotated, the pinion gears 152 and y 154- carried by each of the shafts are actuated to effect an operation of the drive gears 46 associated with each of the rotatable housings 42 and 44 of each of the fixed -housings 16 and 18. AsA the drive gears 46 are actuated, the movable housings 42 and 44 are simultaneously rotated in the same direction, it being noted that the housings 42 and 44 are rotated relative to the xedgears 66 carried on opposite sides of the center frameplate 24. Since the worms 128 carried on the one face of each of the movable housings 42 and 44 are coupled through the pinions to the fixed gears 66, the worms 128 are driven to effect a drive of the gear 98 carried on the shaft 92 of the fixed grooved wheel member 90 to effect a clockwise rotation thereof. At the same time the sprocket 96 carried on the other end of the shaft 92 is driven to effectively drive the chain carried over the sprockets 96, 120, 136 and 132 whereby the sprocket 120 of the adjustable grooved wheel 88 is driven to drive the grooved wheel 88 counterclockwise so that the grooved wheels 88 and 90 cooperate to advance a billet which is disposed therebetween. It is to be noted that each of the rotatable housings 42 and 44 of each ofthe fixed housings 16 and 18 is rotated simultaneously by means of the interconnected gear drive therefor and that the pair of cooperating grooved wheels 88 and 90 of each of the rotatable' housings 42 and 44 is operated simultaneously by reason of the interconnected gear drive and'sprocket and chain drive therefor. Thus while the rotatable housings 42 and 44 are simultaneously rotated to effect a rotation ofthe pairs of grooved wheel members about a longitudinal axis through the assembled housings to thereby turn or rotate a billet 40 which is supported by the grooved wheel members, the pairs of grooved wheels 88 and 90 are also operated'to turn about their axes in a direction to simultaneously drive and advance the billet 40 through the rotatable housings.

dAs is self-evident, since the drive 12 of the billet grinding machine is provided with a Geneva gear 174 in the drive thereof, therotatable movement of the rotatable housings 42 and 44 as well as thedrive of the grooved wheel members 88 and 90 of each of the rotatable housings is an intermittent drive, the Geneva gear 174 being correlated with the positioning of the billet 40 between the grooved wheel members 88 and 90 so that as thepin 186 or 188 engages a slot of the Geneva gear a rotation of the billet 40 is obtained with a corner or edge of the billet in engagement with the grinding wheel '38. As the billet 40 is turned to present a flat surface to the grinding wheel 38, the slot of the Geneva gear is disengaged so that no movement of the billet 40 is obtained as the grinding wheel 38 engages a major portion of the hat surface thereof. By thus controlling the rotatable movement of the housings 42 and 44 to effect a rotatable advance of the billet 40, the billet is rotated to present a 'corner or edge thereof to be ground in a period of time substantially equal to the period of time required for grinding the flat surface of the billet as will be described hereinafter. In practice, with a 41/2 inch billet, a time of about two seconds is permitted for grinding each of the iiat surfaces and each of the corners or edges of the billet 40, the resulting ground billet having slightly rounded edges as a result of the grinding thereof. As will be evident a suitable coolant (not shown) is supplied to the surfaces of the billet in any suitable manner as the grinding wheel effects a grinding operation thereon.

In order to control the pressure of the grinding wheel 38 on a billet 40 and control movement of the grinding wheel 38 relative to the billet 40 when a flat surface thereof is being ground, the grinding wheel 38, as illustrated in Fig. 6, is carried by a suitable rectangular frame member 194 which is pivotally carried as at 196 on an upright frame or stanchion 198 which, in turn, is pivotally mount.- ed as at 200 on a suitable base 202. The grinding wheel end of the rectangular frame 194 is pivotally connected as by'linkage 204 to the frames of the xed housings 16 and'18 as better shown in Fig. 7. Thus brackets 286 and 208 carried by the fixed housings 16 and 18, respectively, are provided with bearings (not shown) in whichA the ends of a shaft 209 are mounted. Intermediate of the brackets 206 and 208 there are disposed bearing sleeves 210 and 212 to which are xedly con- 7 nested links 214 and 216, respectively, the. lower ends .0f whlchare provided with bearing sleeves l(not shown) for receiving a shaft 218 on which is pivotally mounted an upwardly extending linkage 220, the upper end of which is pivotally carried by a shaft 222 which is mounted in brackets 224 and 226 at the ends thereof and which are carried on the lower surface ofthe ends of the rectangular frame 194. As illustrated in Fig. 7, a pair of spring members 228 and 230 is disposed about the shaft 209 between the bearing sleeves 210 and bracket 206 and the bearing sleeve 212 and bracket 208, respectively, in order to cushion sideways movement of the frame 194 duringy a grinding operation. The linkage support 204 effectively supports the grinding wheel 38 during a lateral movement thereof across a flat surface of a billet 48 as the upright frame l98 is Divoted about its pivot 200 as will be referred to hereinafter, as well as during a grinding operation around a corner of the billet. In order to drive the grinding wheel 38 a suitable motor 232 shown in dash outline is carried by the frame 194 in a position above the upright frame 198 and is connected as bv rneans of a belt 234 to a grooved pulley 236 of the grinding wheel 38.

The other end ot' the frame 194 is pivotally connected as at 238 to the ends o'r' piston rods 240 and 242 connected to the pistons (not shown) of double acting iluid responsive cylinders 244 and 246. respectively. which are pivotallv mounted as at 248 and 250. respectively, on a fixed frame 252 disposed adjacent the upright pivotal frame 198. The pivotal frame 198 is also connected as by means of pivotally connected link 254 and lever 256 to the end of a piston rod 258 which is connected to a piston (not shown) of a double acting fluid responsive cylinder 260 which is pivotally connected as at 262 to' the fixed frame 252. The lever 256 is pivotallv mounted as at 264 in a suitable bracket 266 carried bv the top of the fixed frame 252 and the end of the link 254 is pivotallv connected as at 268 to a bracket 270 carried bv the upright pivotal frame 198. Another double actntr huid responsive cylinder 272 is disposed in a suitable manner as for example as illustrated bv pivoting at one end as at 274 to a bracket 276 which is carried by one of the housings 16 or 18 having the piston rod 278 thereof pivotally connected as at 280 to a rod 282 which is pivotally mounted as at 284 to one of the housings 16 or 18 and which carries a roller stop 286 at the other end thereof disposed to engage an adjustable stop member 288 which is carried by the pivotal frame member 198, the purpose of which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The double acting uid responsive cylinders 244, 246, 269 and 272 are connected by suitable pipe connections, not shown but which are indicated by the dash arrow lines 290-292, 294-296, 298-300 and 302-384, respectively, to electromagnetically controlled directional valves shown generally at 306, 308, 3l() and 312, respectively, each of the valves being connected to a suitable source of supply of duid pressure such as, for example, air pressure. Each of the control valves 306, 308, 318 and 312 is provided with two electromagnetic windings 314-316, S18-320, S22-324 and 326-328, respectively, which are disposed to be connected under predetermined conditions to a source of supply of electrical energy represented by the conductors 330 and 332.

Thus the Winding 314 of the control valve 386 is disposed to be connected across the supply conductors 330 and 332 by conductors 334 and 336 when a manually operated switch 338 is actuated to a circuit establishing position. The other winding 316 of the control valve 306 is disposed to be energized when a limit switch 3,46 is actuated by an adjustable stop member 342 which is carried on the end of the frame 194 to establish av circuit vfhich extends from conductor 330 through conductor 344, limit. switch 348, conductor 346, winding 316 Cil and conductor 336 to the other conductor `332 of the source of supply of energy.

The winding 318 of the control Valve 308 is disposed to be energized when a limit switch 348 is actuated as will be described hereinafter to establish a circuit which extends from conductor 330 of the source of energy through conductors 358 and 352, the limit switch 348, conductor 354, winding 318 and conductor 356 to the other conductor 332 of the source of supply. Likewise the winding 320 of the control valve 308 is disposed to be energized when a limit switch 358 is actuated to a circuit establishing position as will be described hereinafter to establish a circuit which extends from the conductor 330 of the source of supply through conductor 358, limit switch 358, conductor 360, winding 320 and conductor 356 to the other conductor 332 of the source ot supply.

The winding 322 of the control valve 310 is disposed to be energized when a limit switch 362 is actuated to a circuit establishing position as will be described hereinafter to establish a circuit which extends from conductor 338 of the source of supply through conductors 350, 364, limit switch 362, conductor 366, winding 322 and conductor 368 to the other conductor 332 of the source of supply of energy. Likewise the winding 324 of the control valve 31) is disposed to be energized when another limit switch 370 is actuated to a circuit establishing position as will be described hereinafter to establish a circuit which extends from conductor 330 of the source of supply through conductors 350, 364 and 372, limit switch 370, conductor 374, Winding 324 and conductor 368 to the other conductor 332 of the source of supply.

As illustrated, the winding 326 of the control valve 312 is also disposed to be energized when a limit switch 376 is actuated to a circuit establishing position as will be described hereinafter to establish a circuit which extends from the conductor 33t) from the source of supply through conductors 358 and 364, limit switch 376, conductor 378, winding 326 and conductor 380 to the other conductor 332 of the source of supply. In a similar manner winding 328 of the control valve 312 is disposed to be energized when a limit switch 382 is actuated to a circuit establishing position, as will be described hereinafter, to establish a circuit which extends from conductor 330 through conductors 350 and 352, limit switch 382, conductor 384, winding 328 and conductor 380 to the other conductor 332 of the power source.

As illustrated, the ring retaining member 58 of one of the rotatable housings is provided with four spaced lugs 386 thereabout, such lugs being apart. The spaced lugs 386 are, in effect, timing lugs for controlling the actu.- ation of the limit switches 358 and 348-382. Thus the limit switch 358 is connected to a limiting member 388 disposed in the path of movement of the timing lugs 386 so that when engaged thereby the limiting member 388 actuates the limit switch 358 to a circuit establishing position. In a similar manner the limit switch 348 and limit switch 382 are disposed to be simultaneously actuated by the timing lugs 386 in that the limit switches 348 and 382 are commonly connected to a limiting member 39) which is also disposed in the path of movement of the spaced timing lugs 386 to be engaged thereby under4 predetermined movements of the ring retaining member 58 as the billet 48 is rotated.

The limit switches 362 and 376 are also disposed to be simultaneously actuated by means of an adjustabie stop member 392 which is carried by the upright pivotal frame w8 upon predetermined pivotal movement ofthe frame in a clockwise direction. In a similar manner the limit switch 370 is disposed to be actuated to a circuit establishing position when engaged byy an adjustable stop member 39d which is also carried by the pivotal frame 198 upon predetermined movement of the frame in a counterclockwise direction,

envases Y In operation, assuming that a billet 40 has vbeen supplied to one end of the billet grinding device and fed through the rotatable housings 42 and 44, for example, of the fixed housing 16, to a point where the end of the billet 40 is positioned beneath the grinding wheel 38 which is normally held in a position retracted from an engaging position after a grinding operation, as Will be referred to hereinafter, and assuming that the motor 232 has been energized to drive the grinding wheel 38, then in order to actuate the grinding wheel 38 into engagement with a surface of the billet 40 the manually operated switch 338 is operated to a circuit establishing position to energize the winding 314 of the control valve 306. When thus energized the control valve 306 permits the application of liuid pressure through the conduit represented by the dash arrow line 290 to the double acting cylinder 244 to apply a constant pressure thereto and effect an upward movement of the piston rod 240 thereof to effect a counterclockwise movement of the frame 194 about its pivot 196 to lower lthe grinding wheel 38 into grinding engagement with the billet 40 and apply a constant pressure though such grinding wheel. Assuming that the grinding wheel 38 is in engagement with the billet 40 adjacent a corner or edge thereof in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, and that one of the pins 186 or 188 is in a position to begin to engage a slot of the Geneva gear 174, the frame 198 would normally be in the position illustrated in which the stop member 392 has actuated the limit switches 362 and 376 to effectively energize windings 322 and 326 of the control valves 310 and 312, respectively, whereby the cylinders 260 and 272 are under pressure to drive their piston rods 258 and 278 outwardly therefrom and tend to drive the frame 198 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 200. Such movement of the frame 198, however, is prevented since the roller stop 286 actuated by the cylinder 272 is in the path of movement of the stop 288 to prevent such counterclockwise movement of the frame 198. Under such conditions no lateral movement of the grinding wheel 38 is effected.

. As yone of the pins 186 or 188 engages a slot of the Geneva gear 174, movement of the retaining ring 58 is effected simultaneously with the movement of the billet 40 whereby the timing lug 386 adjacent the limiting member 388 is actuated to engage such limiting member as the rotatable movement ofthe billet 40 is effected. Under such conditions the limit switch 358 is actuated to a circuit closing position to effect the energization of the winding 320 of the control valve 308 to effect an instantaneous release of fluid pressure applied to the cylinder 246 whereby only the constant pressure applied by the cylinder 244 is maintained on the grinding wheel `38 as the rotation of the billet is effected. Thus the grinding wheel will ride up over the corner of the billet 40 nwith only thefconstant pressure maintained thereon to effect the grinding of the corner of the billet as the billet is turned thereunder. As the billet is turned through its quarter revolution, the grinding wheel then rotates down the at'surface of the billet to a position closely approximating that shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, at which position the timing lug 386 has been advanced to engage the limiting member 390 to effect the simultaneous operation of the limit switches 348 and382 as the billet approaches a position where only a flat surface is presented to the grinding wheel 38. Thus the first pass of the grinding wheel over the flat surface of the billet presented thereto as the quarter turn rotation of the billet is completed is .performed only under the constant pressure as applied by the cylinder 244, but as the billet approaches the at position shown in the' drawing, the limit switch 348 is vactuated to complete the energizing circuit for winding ,318 of the valve 308 to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder 246 whereby additional pressure is applied to .the frame 194 over that of the constant pressure of the through the grinding wheel 38. -At the same timethe limit switch 382 is actuated to energize the winding 328 of the control valve 312 to effectively relieve the pressure applied to the double acting cylinder 272 and effect an operation thereof to withdraw the roller stop 286 from" the path of movement of the adjustable stop 288. Thus under the pressure of the cylinder 260, the pressure of which has been applied thereto when the winding 322 was initially energized, the piston rod 258 moves outwardly therefrom to effect a counterclockwise movement of the frame 198 to move the grinding wheel 38 laterally across the flat surface of the billet 40 to the corner which has just been ground until the stop 394 engages and actuates the limit switch 370 to energize the winding 324 of the controlvalve 310, it being noted that limitl switches 362 and 376 have been actuated to the open circuit position in such operation. When the winding 324' is thus energized to release the pressure applied to the' double acting cylinder 260, the piston rod 258 is actu-y ated to effect a clockwise pivotal movement of the frame 198 to effect a lateral movement of grinding wheel 38 across the fiat surface of the billet 40 toward the next corner which is to be ground. As such pivotal movement of the frame 198 is effected and the grinding wheel approaches the next corner of the billet to be ground, the stop 392 engages and actuates the limit switch 362 and limit switch 376 to again establish the energizing circuits for windings 322 and 326, respectively, of the control valves 310 and 312, respectively, to again effect an operation of the roller stop 286 into the path of movement of the stop member 288 to prevent pivotal movement of the frame 198 and simultaneously therewith effect an application of pressure tothe cylinder 260 to tend to move the frame member 198 in a counterclockwise movement, which movement is effectively stopped by the roller stop 286. Thus, in effect, the fiat surface of the billet 40 is subjected to three grinding operations for each grinding operation of an associated corner. The cycle just described is repeated in effecting the grinding of each corner and the following at surface, it being noted that the grinding is progressive as the billet 40 passes through the housings 16 and 18. During such grinding movement it is to be noted that spring members 228 and 238 permit a slight amount of sideways movement of the grinding wheel 38 as the grinding wheel is moved laterally across the flat surface of the billet 40. Such slight sideways movement has been found to effect an efficient grinding of the at surface of the billet as the grinding wheel moves laterally thereacross.

In operation it is found that where the grinding wheel 38 has a size of about 21/2 inches across the grinding face thereof, a progressive grinding of the surface of the billet is obtained in a somewhat spiral fashion about the at surface and corners of the billet. An overall elapsed time of about two seconds is required for making the three passes on the at surface, the Geneva gear being designed to permit about two seconds also on each of the corners. In practice it is preferred that the billets be of from ive to nine feet in length with a size of up to 51/2 inchesl square or larger. I t will be appreciated that as the size of the billet varies, different Geneva gear movements can be utilized so as to correlate the quarter turn rotation of the billet with the time required to grind the corners and ilat surfaces thereof. The billets are effectively ground, it being noted that as the square billet is ground, the square shape of the initial billet is maintained. As will be appreciated,

lcylinder 244 10,. in, effect, `apply Yadditional pressure 75 vbillets which are not perfectly straight, the adjustable grooved wheel members of the rotatable housings 42 and 44 being automatically slightly displaced while holding the billet by opposite edges thereof in the cooperating grooves of the vopposite wheels of each pair -to accommo- I1 date any misalignment or irregularities which might be hadA in the surface of the billet.

t In practice billets are usually fed continuously to the billet grinding apparatus so that as one billet is ground the forward end of another billet is immediately engaged by the grinding wheel 38. If, however, discontinuous operation is had, then when the grinding of a billet is completed the grinding wheel 3S drops below the level of the billet 40 as the end of the billet passes therebeyond with the result that the stop member 342 carried by the frame 194 actuates the limit switch 3d@ to establish the energizing circuit to the winding 3% of the control valve 306. When thus energized, the control valve 306 releases the constant pressure applied to the cylinder 244 to effect an operation thereof to retract the piston rod 240 and effect a clockwise movement of the frame 194 about its pivot 196 to raise the grinding wheel 38 to a position above the normal position of a billet so that the grinding wheel 38 will then be in a raised position disposed to be actuated into engagement with the next succeeding billet when the manually operated switch 338 is moved to its circuit establishing position.

The billet grinding apparatus of this invention is outstanding in its operation in that it effectively accomplishes a complete grinding of not only the flat surfaces but also the corners of a billet, such grinding being progressive as the billet is rotatably advanced through the billet grinding apparatus. In operation the billet grinding apparatus is fast and eflicient, billets having a nine-foot length being readily ground in a period of time as short as six minutes, depending upon the timing cycle determined by the size of the Geneva gear ineluded in the drive for the apparatus. The controls are such that the grinding pressure applied to all external portions of a billet being conditioned is controlled with the corners being ground in substantially the same amount of time as the flat surfaces of the billet. By providing for the lateral movement of the grinding wheel relative to the fiat surfaces of the billet, burning of the metal is prevented and the entire tlat surface is contacted.

The apparatus of this invention saves untold money over the investment required with previously used swing grinders as well as considerable savings in manpower, as one man can operate this billet grinder apparatus in a continuous fashion, it being noted that once the operation is started it is automatic throughout a grinding cycle until an end of a billet passes the grinding wheel. Thus one man can feed succeeding billets to the grinding machine, walk to the other end and see that the ground billet is discharged properly therefrom, this being the only Work involved once the apparatus has been set into operation and billets are fed continuously thereto.

We claim:

l. In a billet grinding apparatus, the combination comprising, a pair of lixed spaced housings, a rotatable housing carried by each of the xed spaced housings and having an opening therethrough disposed in aligned relation with one another for receiving a billet, a pair grooved wheel members carried by each of the rotatable housings in a predetermined spaced relation with the grooves of each pair facing and aligned with one another for receiving and supporting a billet therebetween, means interconnected between the rotatable housings disposed to be operated to eect a simultaneous rotation of the rotatable housings, means disposed to be operated by the rotation of the rotatable housings and connected to the wheel members thereof for eifecting a simultaneous drive of the wheel members, the drive` of the wheel members and the rotation of the rotatable housings cooperating to rotatably advance a billet through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, grinding means positioned between the iixed spaced housings disposed for controlled lateral and vertical movements relative to the sides andY corners of a billet to engage and progressively grind the surface of a billet as the billet is rotatably advanced through the aligned openings of the rotatable. housings, means connected to intermittently drive the interconnected means to control the operation thereof and edect an intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and the grooved wheel members carried thereby to intermittently eect a quarter turn of the billet, and control means responsive to the intermittent turning of the billet for effecting a positive lateral grinding movement of the grinding means on a side of the billet as the billet is stationary between each intermittent quarter turn of the billet.

2. In a billet grinding apparatus, the combination comprising, a pair of fixed spaced housings, a rotatable housing carried by each of the fixed spaced housings and having an opening therethrough disposed in aligned relation with one another for receiving a billet, a pair of grooved wheel members carried by each of the rotatable housings in a predetermined spaced relation with the grooves of each pair facing and aligned with one another for receiving and supporting a billet therebetween, means interconnected between the rotatable housings disposed to be operated to effect a simultaneous rotation of the rotatable housings, means disposed to be operated by the rotation of the rotatable housings and connected to the wheel members thereof for electing a simultaneous drive of the wheel members, the drive of the wheel members and the rotation of the rotatable housings cooperating to rotatably advance a billet through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, grinding means positioned between the fixed spaced housings disposed for controlled lateral and vertical movements relative to the sides and corners of a billet to engage and progressively grind the surface of a billet as the billet is rotatably advanced through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, means connected to intermittently drive the interconnected means to control the operation thereof and effect an intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and the grooved wheel members carried thereby to intermittently effect a quarter turn of the billet, and control means responsive to the intermittent rotation of the billet for controlling the pressure of the grinding means on the fiat surfaces and edges of the billet, said control means including means to prevent a positive lateral movement of the grinding means as the billet is rotatably advanced a quarter turn through the housings and means to effect a positive lateral movement of the grinding means on a side of the billet as the billet is stationary between each intermittent quarter turn of the billet.

3. In a billet grinding apparatus, the combination comprising, a pair of fixed spaced housings, a pair of spaced rotatabie housings carried by each of the fixed spaced housings and having openings therethrough disposed in aligned relation with one another for receiving a billet, a pair of grooved wheel members carried by each of the rotatable housings in predetermined spaced relation with the grooves of each pair of wheel members facing and aligned with one another for receiving and supporting a billet having a substantially square cross section and a longitudinal axis therebetween, means interconnected with each pair of the rotatable housings disposed to be operated to effect a simultaneous rotation of each of the rotatable housings, drive means for the wheel members disposed to be operated as the rotatable housings are rotated to eiect a simultaneous drive of each of the wheel members carried thereby, the rotation of the rotatable housings effecting a rotation of the spaced grooved wheel members about the longitudinal axis of a billet supported therein and cooperating with the drive of the grooved Wheel members to rotatably advance a billet through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, grinding means positioned between the fixed spaced housings disposed for controlled lateral and vertical movements relative to the sides and corners of. a billet to engage and progressively grind` the dat surfaces and corners of a billet asr the billet is rotatably advanced .through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, -means connected to intermittently drive the interconnected means for effecting a predetermined intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and the grooved wheel members carried thereby to intermittently effect a quarter turn of the billet, and control means responsive to the intermittent driving of therotatable housings and the turning of the billet for preventing-a positive lateral movement of the grinding means during a turning movement of the billet and for effecting a positive lateral movement of the grinding means across a side of the billet between each intermittent quarter turn thereof.

4. In a billet grinding apparatus, the combination comprising, a pair of fixed spaced housings, a rotatable housing carried by each of the fixed spaced housings and having an opening therethrough disposed in aligned relation with one another for receiving a billet, va pair of grooved wheel members carried by each of the rtatable housings in a predetermined spaced relation with the grooves of each pair facing and aligned with one another for receiving and supporting a billet therebetween, means interconnected between the rotatable housings disposed to be operated to eect a simultaneous rotation of the rotatable housings, means disposed to be operated by the rotation of the rotatable housings and connected to the wheel members thereof for effecting a simultaneous drive of the wheel members, the drive of the Wheel members and the rotation of the rotatable housings cooperating to rotatably advance a billet through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, grinding means positioned between the fixed spaced housings disposed to engage and progressively grind the surfaces of va billet as the billet is rotatably advanced through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, means connected to intermittently drive the interconnected means to control the operation thereof and effect an intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and the grooved wheel members carried thereby to. rotate the billet a quarter turn and present a flat surface thereof to the grinding means, and control means responsive to the intermittent drive of the rotatable, housings and turning of the billet disposed to be operated upo'n completion of said quarter turn rotation to effect a positive lateral movement of the .grinding means across said fiat surface of the billet,

said control means including means disposed to prevent a positive lateral movement of the grinding means during said quarter turn rotation of' thebillet.

5'. In a billet grinding apparatus having means for l rotatably advancing a billet therethrough to be engaged by a grinding means and having operating means for effecting an intermittent quarter turn rotation of the billet to progressively present the fiat surfaces and corners thereof to be engaged by the grinding means, the combination comprising, a frame support for the grinding means, the support being pivotally mounted and disposed for movement to effect lateral and vertical movements of the grinding means relative to the billet when the grinding means is in engagement therewith, a first actuating means connected to the grinding means support and disposed to be operated to effect a pivotal movement of the support to move the grinding means laterally across a at surface of the billet, a second actuating means connected to the grinding means support disposed to be operated to impose a constant grinding pressure on the grinding means, a third actuating means connected to the grinding means support disposed to be operated to impose additional grinding pressure on the grinding means, a fourth actuating means disposed to be operated to actuate a stop into and out of the path of movement of the grinding means support, a first and second limit switch means disposed to be simultaneously operated to circuit establishing positions as a quarter turn rotation of the billet is completed to present a flat surface thereof to the grinding means and to 14 4 circuit interrupting positions during a quarter turn ro'- tation of the billet to present a corner thereof to the grinding means, the first and second limit switch means being connected to effect the simultaneous operation of the fourth and third actuating means when in circuit establishing positions to actuate the stop out of the path of movement of the grinding means support and to apply said additional pressure to the grinding means, a third limit switch means disposed to be operated to circuit establishing position as a quarter turn rotation of the billet is initiated to present a corner thereof to the grinding means to effect an operation of the third actuating means to remove the additional grinding pressure from the grinding means, a fourth limit switch means disposed to be operated to a circuit establishing position by a predetermined lateral movement of the grinding means in the one direction and connected to the first actuating means to reverse the operation thereof to effect a pivotal movement of the support to move the grinding means laterally in a reverse direction, and a fifth and sixth limit switch means disposed to be simultaneously operated to circuit establishing positions by a predetermined lateral movement of the grinding means in said reverse direction, the fifth limit switch being connected to effect the operation of the fourth actuating means to move the stop into the path of movement of the grinding means support, the sixth limit switch being connected to effect the operation of the first actuating means to effect a pivotal movement of the support to move the grinding means in a direction opposite to said reverse direction, and a seventh limit switch means disposed to be operated upon completion of the grinding of a billet to effect an operation of the second actuating means to release the constant pressure on the grinding means and raise the grinding means out of a billet engaging position.

6. In a billet grinding apparatus having means for rotatably advancing a billet therethrough to be engaged by a grinding means and having operating means for effecting an intermittent quarter turn rotation of the billet to progressively present the flat surfaces and corners thereof to be engaged by the grinding means, the combination comprising, a frame support for the grinding means, the support being pivotally mounted and disposed for movement to effect lateral and vertical movements of the grinding means relative to the billet when the grinding means is in engagement therewith, a first actuating means connected to the grinding means support and disposed to be operated to effect a pivotal movement `of the support to move `the grinding means laterally, a second actuating means connected to the grinding means support disposed to be operated to effect a pivotal movement of the support to effect a vertical movement of the grinding means, a third actuating means connected to the grinding means support disposed to be operated to apply grinding pressure to the grinding means, a stop disposed to be actuated into and out of the path of movement of the grinding means support, a fourth actuating means connected to effect movement of the stop, a first and second limit switch means disposed to be simultaneously operated to circuit establishing positions as the billet completes a quarter turn rotation to present a flat surface thereof to the grinding means, the first limit switch means being connected when in the circuit establishing position to effect the operation of the fourth actuating means to move the stop out of the path of movement of the grinding means support, the second limit switch means being connected when in the circuit establishing position to effect operation of the third actuating means to apply grinding pressure to the grinding means, a third limit switch means disposed to be operated to a circuit establishing position by lateral movement of the grinding means in the one direction and connected to the first actuating means to reverse the operation thereof and effect a pivotal movement of the support to move the grinding means laterally in a reverse direction, -a fourth and 4iifth limit switch means disposed to be simultaneously operated to circuit establishing positions by a predetermined lateral movement of the grinding means in said reverse direction, the fourth limit switch means being connected when in the circuit establishing position to the third actuating means to effect the operation thereof to release said grinding pressure, the fifth limit switch means being connected when in the circuit establishing position to the fourth actuating means to move the stop into the path of movement of the grinding means support, a sixth limit switch means disposed to be operated to a circuit establishing position as a quarter turn rotation of the billet is initiated to present a corner thereof to the grinding means to eiiect operation of the third actuating means to release the grinding pressure applied thereby, and a seventh limit switch means disposed to be operated upon completion of a grinding operation to elect an operation of the second actuating means to raise the grinding means to a position above the grinding position.

7. In a billet grinding apparatus, the combination comprising, a pair of ixed spaced housings, a rotatable housing carried by each of the iixed spaced housings and having an opening therethrough disposed in aligned relation with one another for receiving a billet, a pair of wheel members carried by each of the rotatable housings in a predetermined spaced relation with the faces of the wheel members aligned with one another for receiving and supporting a billet therebetween, means interconnected between the rotatable housings disposed to be operated to eiect a simultaneous rotation of the rotatable housings, means disposed to be operated by the rotation of the rotatable housings and connected to the wheel members thereof for effecting a simultaneous drive of the wheel members, the drive of the wheel members and the rotation of the rotatable housings cooperating to rotatably advance a billet through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, grinding means positioned between the fixed spaced housings disposed for controlled lateral and vertical movements relative to the sides and corners of a billet to engage and progressively grind the surface of a billet as the billet is rotatably advanced through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, means connected to intermittently drive the interconnected means to control the operation thereof and elect an intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and the spaced wheel members carried thereby to intermittently elect a quarter turn of the billet, and control means responsive to the intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and turning of the billet for preventing a positive lateral movement of the grinding means during a turning movement of the billet and for effecting a positive lateral movement of the grinding means across a side of the billet between each intermittent quarter turn thereof,

8. In a billet grinding apparatus, the combination comprising, a pair of iixed spaced housings, a pair of spaced Verated as the rotatable housings are rotated to eiect a simultaneous drive of each of the Wheel members carried thereby, the drive of the wheel members and the rotation of the rotatable housings cooperating to rotatably advance a billet through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, grinding means positioned between the xed spaced housings disposed for controlled lateral and vertical movements relative to the sides and corners of a billet to engage and progressively grind the surface of a billet as the billet is rotatably advanced through the aligned openings of the rotatable housings, means connected to intermittently drive the interconnected means to control the operation thereof and effect an intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and the wheel members carried thereby to intermittently effect a quarter turn of the billet, and control means responsive to the intermittent drive of the rotatable housings and turning of the billet for preventing a positive lateral movement of the grinding means during a turning movement of the billet and for electing a positive lateral movement of the grinding means across a side of the billet between each intermittent quarter turn thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,283 Coda June 25, 1912 2,347,503 Platt Apr. 25, 1944 2,347,639 Platt Apr. 25, 1944 2,558,943 Ellison July 3, 1951 

